Aarushi hearing deferred

Hearing in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case was adjourned till June 8 following a condolence call by the bar association on Monday. HT reports.

Hearing in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case was adjourned till June 8 following a condolence call by the bar association on Monday.

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Though the CBI had sent notices to two prosecution witnesses to appear before the court, the trial in the Ghaziabad court on Monday couldn't start due to the death of a lawyer.

Both Dr Rajesh Talwar and Dr Nupur Talwar were present. They were charged with murder and destruction of evidence with common intention by the sessions court on May 25. Rajesh was additionally charged with misleading the investigations (under section 203 of IPC) and also for filing a false FIR against Hemraj, who was found dead on May 17, 2008, a day after Aarushi was found murdered.

The CBI had called on officials from the electricity department from Noida and also forensic-experts for their statements before the court. The CBI has a list of 140 witnesses, out of which statements of only 96 were recorded under section 161 of CrPC (statement before police).

The agency said the other witnesses were forensic experts and officials from the UP police. The CBI has also relied upon CrPC 164 (statement before a Magistrate) of only two witnesses Dr Rohit Kocchar and Dr Rajiv Kumar, who visited the Talwar residence on the morning of May 16, 2008 after 14-year-old Aarushi Talwar was found murdered.

Nupur Talwar is presently lodged at Dasna Jail in connection with the double-murder case and was denied bail by the Allahabad High Court last week. Her husband Rajesh is presently out on bail.

The Talwars are relying heavily on the outcome of Nupur's review petition over which the Supreme Court had reserved its orders.

Nupur wants to study law
Dasna jail officials said Dr Nupur Talwar has requested for books on law from the jail library and has also sought details for a correspondence course in law.

Jail superintendent Dr Viresh Raj Sharma told Hindustan Times, "She has also sought details for a correspondence course in law. For this, we have sent our application to the respective court and have issued her books on law from our jail library," Sharma said.